Mary, Mary, Which Tracz Was It You Married?, Research As It Is Series

Copyright 2025, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

This continues a series of posts, done in an efficient (make that as fast as possible) manner to share some research on the ancestors.  This is NOT intended to be the end all to end all report.  It's a work in progress, to show you what I have found, right or wrong. Kind feedback is welcomed via comments.

Let’s begin - - 

Meet - -  Mary Maryanna Waselewska Waszelenska.  

BE AWARE - - This search, these names, this heritage, all demand that one be forgiving about spellings.  My general operating rule of "Spelling Don't Count" is in full affect herein.  And, sorry, this is not going to be short and sweet.  SIGH.

First Mary, with her first husband, Joseph.

Mary, with her second husband, Thomas.  

Some basic facts about Joseph, husband # 1, to date, this is all I have recorded. I have not discovered a marriage date for the couple.

Joseph Kowalski

in the 1920 United States Federal Census

Name:Joseph Kowalski

Age:34

Birth Year:abt 1886

Birthplace:Poland Russia

Home in 1920:Detroit Ward 7, Wayne, Michigan

Street:Alexandrine Ave E

House Number:518

Residence Date:1920

Race:White

Gender:Male

Immigration Year:1912

Relation to Head of House:Head

Marital Status:Married

Spouse's Name:Mary Kowalski

Father's Birthplace:Russia;Poland

Mother's Birthplace:Russia;Poland

Native Tongue:Polish

Able to Speak English:no

Occupation:Cupola Tender

Industry:Foundry

Employment Field:Wage or Salary

Home Owned or Rented:Rented

Naturalization Status:Alien

Able to Write:No

Household Members Age Relationship

Joseph Kowalski 34 Head

Mary Kowalski   24 Wife

Theodore Kowalski   5 Son

Roman Kowalski   3 Son

Wadeslawa Kowalski   1 Daughter  ** Actually a SON

Joseph Kowalski

in the Michigan, U.S., Death Records, 1867-1952

Name:Joseph Kowalski

Gender:Male

Race:White

Marital status:Married

Death Age:36

Birth Date:19 Jan 1886

Birth Place:Russia Poland

Death Date:27 Nov 1922

Death Place:Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, USA

Father:John Kowalski

Mother:Katherine Paluzanski

File Number:020382

We note his bride's name is recorded, with maiden name, spelling a bit different, of course.

No Find A Grave memorial for Joseph has been located as of January 2025.

This is where Mary's story starts getting muddy.  She then marries a Tracz, given name Thomas.

Mary Kowalska

in the Michigan, U.S., Marriage Records, 1867-1952

Name:Mary Kowalska

[Mary Waszelenska]

Gender:Female

Race:White

Age:28

Birth Date:abt 1895

Birth Place:Poland

Marriage Date:Apr 1923

Marriage Place:Michigan, USA

Residence Place:Detroit, Michigan

Father:Joseph Waszelenska

Mother:Margaret Larhowska

Spouse:Tom Trach

Record Number:245801

Mary Tracy

in the 1930 United States Federal Census

Name Mary Tracy

[Mary Tracz]

Birth Year abt 1898

Gender Female

Race White

Age in 1930 32

Birthplace Poland

Marital Status Married

Relation to Head of House Wife

Homemaker? Yes

Home in 1930 Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, USA

Map of Home Detroit, Wayne, Michigan

Street Address Forest Ave E.

Ward of City 9th

Block 504

House Number 2267

Dwelling Number 74

Family Number 62

Age at First Marriage 25

Attended School No

Able to Read and Write Yes

Father's Birthplace Poland

Mother's Birthplace Poland

Language Spoken Polish

Naturalization Alien

Able to Speak English Yes

Household Members (Name) Age Relationship

Thomas Tracy 42 Head

Mary Tracy 32 Wife

Anna Tracy 3 Daughter

Helen Tracy 1 Daughter

Theodore Kowalsky 14 Stepson (Step Son)

Roman Kowalsky 13 Stepson (Step Son)

Wladytav Kowalsky 11 Stepson (Step Son)

Wanda Kowalsky 8 Stepdaughter (Step Daughter)

Mary Tracy

in the 1940 United States Federal Census

Name:Mary Tracy

Respondent:Yes

Age:45

Estimated Birth Year:abt 1895

Gender:Female

Race:White

Birthplace:Poland

Marital Status:Married

Relation to Head of House:Wife

Home in 1940:Detroit, Wayne, Michigan

Map of Home in 1940:Detroit, Wayne, Michigan

Street:Alexanderine Avenue E

House Number:1815

Inferred Residence in 1935:Detroit, Wayne, Michigan

Residence in 1935:Detroit

Citizenship:Alien

Sheet Number:7A

Attended School or College:No

Highest Grade Completed:Elementary school, 8th grade

Weeks Worked in 1939:0

Income:0

Income Other Sources:No

Household Members Age Relationship

Thomas Tracy   47 Head

Mary Tracy 45 Wife

Wander Tracy   19 Daughter ** Wanda

Raymond Tracy   18 Son

Anna Tracy   13 Daughter

Helen Tracy   11 Daughter

Thomas Tracy   9 Son

Mary Tracy   5 Daughter

Thomas dies in 1944, we know that he registered for the World War II Draft before his death.

Thomas Trach

in the U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942

Name:Thomas Trach

Gender:Male

Birth Date:7 Mar 1883

Residence Place:Michigan, USA

Military Draft Date:1942

Next of Kin:Mrs Mary Trach

Thomas Tracz

in the Michigan, U.S., Death Records, 1867-1952

Name:Thomas Tracz

[Tom Trotz]

Gender:Male

Race:White

Marital status:Married

Death Age:55

Birth Date:27 Mar 1889 ** Year differs from WWII Draft Registration

Birth Place:Poland

Death Date:4 Jun 1944

Death Place:Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, USA

File Number:323529

**We note his parents names are not recorded, and we have not discovered them in research up to now.

Thomas is now present on Find A Grave, with a photo of his stone.  The memorial was posted in March of 2023.  The memorial # is 251412613.  His memorial is not linked to Mary's.  

Following up on Mary, after Thomas' death we find:

Mary Tracz

in the 1950 United States Federal Census

Name Mary Tracz

Age 52

Birth Date abt 1898

Race White

Birth Place Poland

Marital Status 2

Relation to Head of House Head

Residence Date 1950

Home in 1950 Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, USA

Street Name Flower Ck

Apartment Number 4735

Dwelling Number 137

Farm No

Acres No

Citizenship No

Occupation Category H

Worked Last Week No

Seeking Work No

Employment Status No

Household Members (Name) Age Relationship

Mary Tracz 52 Head

Also:  Mary Tracz, age 15, daughter, born Michigan

Mary Tracz

in the U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014

Name:Mary Tracz

Social Security Number:380-18-7961

Birth Date:16 Oct 1895

Issue Year:Before 1951

Issue State:Michigan

Last Residence:48207, Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, USA

Death Date:Nov 1969

Tracz Mary Kowalski

in the U.S., Newspapers.com Obituary Index, 1800s-current

Name:Tracz Mary Kowalski

Gender:Female

Death Date:3 Nov 1969

Obituary Date:5 Nov 1969

Obituary Place:Detroit, Michigan, USA

Newspaper Title:Detroit Free Press

Spouse:Thomas

From the Detroit Free Press, Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, published on November 5, 1969:

     "TRACZ-KOWALSKI

     MARY, Nov. 3. Beloved wife of the late Thomas. Funeral Friday 9:15 a.m. from the Wujek Funeral Home, 19301 Van Dyke near 7 Mile, to St. Albertus Church at 10 A.m..  Interment Mt. Olivet."

Here is where I discovered an issue, and the probability that there is another Mary, married to another Tracz (again, all spellings accepted.). See Find A Grave memorial, #213213251, with the dates as follows:

Birth: 16 Oct 1895 Poland

Death: 3 Nov 1969 (aged 74) Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, USA

**Those dates are of the Mary that married Thomas, and had been previously married to Joseph. 

However, her maiden name is recorded as:  Lukasziewicz.

Linked to the memorial we find images of a marriage register and a divorce decree, with this note in the bio:

"In February 1921 she married Casimir Tracz in Detroit.  She divorced him in 1942."

Research note:  Casimir is also found recorded as: Kazmisz, remember, spellings.

We also note that there is a photo of a headstone on which both of her married names are inscribed.

By either spelling, these documents are NOT Thomas, and remember, we do have this marriage:

Mary Kowalska

in the Michigan, U.S., Marriage Records, 1867-1952

Name:Mary Kowalska

[Mary Waszelenska]

Gender:Female

Race:White

Age:28

Birth Date:abt 1895

Birth Place:Poland

Marriage Date:Apr 1923

Marriage Place:Michigan, USA

Residence Place:Detroit, Michigan

Father:Joseph Waszelenska

Mother:Margaret Larhowska

Spouse:Tom Trach

Record Number:245801

So, off I was to attempt to discover who this other Tracz was, and who was his "Mary".  It took hours, this is my current take:

Kazmierz Tracz

in the Michigan, U.S., Marriage Records, 1867-1952

Name Kazmierz Tracz

Gender Male

Race White

Age 25

Birth Date abt 1896

Birth Place Poland

Marriage Date 5 Feb 1921

Marriage Place Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, USA

Residence Place Detroit, Michigan

Father Michael Tracz

Mother Carolina Adock

Spouse Mary Micztal

Record Number 208666

We note from the extraction when she is the focus of the search that her father's name is noted.

Mary Micztal

in the Michigan, U.S., Marriage Records, 1867-1952

Name Mary Micztal

[Mary Lukasiewicz]

Gender Female

Race White

Age 23

Birth Date abt 1898

Birth Place Poland

Marriage Date 5 Feb 1921

Marriage Place Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, USA

Residence Place Detroit, Michigan

Father Jos Lukasiewicz *********

Spouse Kazmierz Tracz

Record Number 208666

Cassimir Tracz

in the U.S., World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942

Name Cassimir Tracz

Gender Male

Birth Date 26 Oct 1894

Residence Place Detroit, Michigan, USA

Military Draft Date 1942

Next of Kin Stanley Klimek **

**We believe that this reflects the fact that Mary had divorced him as in next record.

Mary Tracz

in the Michigan, U.S., Divorce Records, 1897-1952

Name Mary Tracz

Marriage Date 9 Feb 1921

Marriage Place Wayne

Decree Date 25 Jun 1942

Decree Place Wayne, Michigan, USA

Spouse Kazimierz Tracz

State File Number 82 97896

Docket Number 325868

Divorce Status Granted

Kazmisz Tracz

in the U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007

Name Kazmisz Tracz

Birth Date 26 Oct 1896

Birth Place Poland

Death Date 14 Sep 1945

Claim Date 29 Oct 1945

SSN 367090857

Notes 02 Sep 1977: Name listed as KAZMISZ TRACZ

Kazmisz Tracz

in the Michigan, U.S., Death Records, 1867-1952

Name Kazmisz Tracz

[Kazmirz Tracz]

Gender Male

Race White

Marital Status Divorced

Death Age 48

Birth Date 26 Oct 1896

Birth Place Poland

Death Date 14 Sep 1945

Death Place Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, USA

Father Tracz

File Number 340989

**Neither parents names recorded on document, wife of Mary Lukasiewicz is shown, divorced.  He died in County Jail Hospital.  (Image was viewed.)

Buried, per death certificate, Woodmere Cemetery, Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan.

No Find A Grave memorial, has been located.

For a while, I had no idea what happened to Mary, widow/divorcee of Kazmisz. Did locate her, remarried:

Mary Tracz

in the Michigan, U.S., Marriage Records, 1867-1952

Name Mary Tracz

[Mary Lukasiewicz]

Gender Female

Race White

Age 47

Birth Date abt 1899

Birth Place Poland

Marriage License Place Wayne

Marriage Date 8 Jun 1946

Marriage Place Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, USA

Residence Place Detroit, Michigan

Father Joseph Lukasiewicz

Mother Caroline Adach

Spouse Frank Kostrzewa

County File Number 675893

State File Number 355707

Mary Kostrzewa

in the U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014

Name Mary Kostrzewa

Social Security Number 368-20-7281

Birth Date 22 Aug 1897

Issue year Before 1951

Issue State Michigan

Last Residence 48210, Detroit, Wayne, Michigan, USA

Death Date Apr 1970

She does have a Find A Grave memorial, # 142545461, which includes a photo of her stone, with hubby Frank, her given name on the memorial is Maria.

Mary of Kazmisz, is NOT Mary of Thomas.  The Find A Grave memorial for Mary, widow of Thomas, #213213251 has the correct dates, photo of her headstone, maiden name is wrong and the documents attached to her memorial at this time (January 2025) are from the other Mary, wife of Kazmisz, no linking to the memorial for Thomas is in place (January 2025).

Reminder, the Mary we are interested in has a short death notice with both of her married names noted in the paper:

From the Detroit Free Press, Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan, published on November 5, 1969:

     "TRACZ-KOWALSKI

     MARY, Nov. 3. Beloved wife of the late Thomas. Funeral Friday 9:15 a.m. from the Wujek Funeral Home, 19301 Van Dyke near 7 Mile, to St. Albertus Church at 10 A.m..  Interment Mt. Olivet."

No attempt to research any family connections between the men has been made as of now.  I am not convinced by what I have found so far, that I will be able to find such proofs.  I was not interested in the Tracz lineages, I was interested in the Kowalski lines as it connects via marriage to Man's heritage. I have no current plans to continue this search.

* Disclaimers, I use Find A Grave, Ancestry dot com, FamilySearch, several newspaper subscriptions, free sites, such as Virginia Chronicles, Virginia Chancery Cases online at the Library of Virginia and more to research my ancestors.  I pay for subscriptions, full price.

** My judgements may or may not be correct.  Transcriptions may or may not have errors.

*** Links, URL's, for the most part will not be included henceforth on my posts, as so many of them change and then I have to come back and try to re-discover and relink.  Frankly folks, I have no desire to spend my limited time here on this side of the sod with those kinds of do overs.  As researchers, or just members of the internet community, sites such as Find A Grave are easy to find, some are free to use and with the information I am sharing with you, hopefully, you can duplicate the research/findings. That said, I have seen memorials at Find A Grave be removed.  If you have questions, I suggest you leave a nice comment for me. OR find the method I have outlined on my blog for contacting me.

.

Hannah Amelia “Millie” Lush, Died 1909, Well, MMM, Newp, Research As it Is Series

Copyright 2024, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

This continues a series of posts, done in an efficient (make that speedy fast) manner to share some research on the ancestors.  This is NOT intended to be the end all to end all report.  It's a work in progress, to show you what I have found, right or wrong. Kind feedback is welcomed via comments.

Let’s begin - - 

Meet - - Hannah Amelia "Millie" Lush - -

Two weeks ago in my data base, this was all I knew:

The source for the death information was the Missouri Death Index, pre-1910.  There is surely a entry for such a Hannah Lush, mmmmm, ceptttttt, on review of the index and my data base, I remind myself, that the Hannah that died in 1909 was actually one Hannah Jane Alderman, wife of George Washington Lush.  George is a full blood brother of Hannah Amelia Lush.  So easy to see why researchers have confused the two.  Especially when Hannah Amelia has been a bit difficult to chase round the genie globe.

So, after about a week of research (between gardening and such), let us see how Hannah Amelia is represented on my data base now:

From my notes:

Hannah A Lush

in the 1850 United States Federal Census

Name Hannah A Lush

Gender Female

Race White

Age 10

Birth Year abt 1840

Birthplace New York

Home in 1850 Byron, McHenry, Illinois, USA

Attended School Yes

Line Number 15

Dwelling Number 32

Family Number 33

Household Members (Name) Age

Hiram C Lush 45

Jane Lush 33

Louisa Lush 18

Asa T Lush 16

Eugene Lush 15

George W Lush 12

Hannah A Lush 10

Lymon L Lush 8

Lucius Lush 6

Oscar Lush 4

Rebecca Barker 77

SOOOOOOOO use some caution, noting I have not found Hannah Amelia on the 1860 census nor any indexes for 1860 (***** see below for possible info on presumed hubby, Lonson).  I found no marriage at the Illinois Marriage Index, Office of the Secretary of State, (online) June 2024, nor any indication of a marriage anywhere else, for that matter:

Milley Manson

in the 1870 United States Federal Census

Name Milley Manson

Age in 1870 30

Birth Date abt 1840

Birthplace New York

Dwelling Number 303

Home in 1870 San Francisco Ward 11, San Francisco, California

Race White

Gender Female

Post Office San Francisco

Occupation Keeping House

Inferred Spouse Lucon Manson

Inferred Children Frank Manson

Ruby Manson

Household Members (Name) Age

Lucon Manson 39

Milley Manson 30

Frank Manson 6

Ruby Manson 4

Paul Albian 19

Millie Manzer

in the 1880 United States Federal Census

Name Millie Manzer

Age 39

Birth Date Abt 1841

Birthplace New York

Home in 1880 San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA

Street Pine St

House Number 2730

Dwelling Number 28

Race White

Gender Female

Relation to Head of House Wife

Marital Status Married

Spouse's Name Lonson Manzer

Father's Birthplace New York

Mother's Birthplace New York

Occupation Housekeeper

Household Members (Name) Age Relationship

Lonson Manzer 49 Self (Head)

Millie Manzer 39 Wife

Frank E. Manzer 16 Son

Rubena Manzer 14 Daughter

Minnie Manzer 9 Daughter

Lonson Manzer 1 Son

From the San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco, California, published October 16, 1897:

      “MANZER - - In this city, October 15, at 1625 Devisadero street, Amelia M., wife of L. M. Manzer, a native of Illinois, aged 58 years.  

       **Notice of funeral hereafter.”

From the San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco, California, published October 17, 1897:

      “DIED

     (In order to secure absolute correctness in announcements of funerals, friends of the deceased should bring notices to the business office of “The Examiner,” 756 Market st., corner of Grant ave.)

     …

      Manzer, Amelia H. - - 58 y.

AND: 

      “MANZER - - In this city, October 15, Amelia H., beloved wife of L. M. Manzer, a native of New York, aged 58 years 3 months and 1 days.

     *** Friends and acquaintances are respectfully invited to attend the funeral to-day (Sunday), at 2 o’clock p.m., from her late residence, 1623 Devisadero street.  Interment, Masonic Cemetery.”

Next I chased the 4 children named in the various census enumerations, Frank, Ruby, Minnie and Lonson.  For Frank, I found no references to his mother's name. However I did find him living at the same address on Devisadero street in the California, U.S., Voter Registers, 1866-1898 for the years 1892 and 1896.

Ruby, I found 2 references, one on the Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007, Mother:  Amelia H Lush and in the Nevada Death Index and the death certificate: Mother: Amelia Manzer, maiden name, Lush.  

Minnie (oh, we will deal with her in depth in a future post).  No reference to her mother's name has been located, but, her obituary does state the names of her siblings.  

Lonson (Jr.) I found no reference to his mother's name anywhere. His father is mentioned by name. 

So, the results - - mixed - - and yes, that does tend to leave me ever so slightly hesitant.

If we review the last newspaper clipping for Amelia we note the intended burial place, Masonic Cemetery.

I find the following at Find A Grave:

Masonic Cemetery

San Francisco, San Francisco County, California, USA

Turk, Fulton, Parker and Masonic Streets

San Francisco, California, USA

Coordinates: 37.77670, -122.45040

     The Masonic Cemetery (1864-1901) was located between Turk, Fulton, Parker and Masonic Streets on what is today the University of San Francisco. The tombstones were used as fill on the approaches to the Golden Gate Bridge.

     In June of 1901 an unknown number of bodies from the Masonic Cemetery were moved to the Japanese Cemetery in Colma.

     The rest of the remains from the Masonic Cemetery were moved to Woodlawn Cemetery in Colma.

  ** Our Hannah Amelia is not listed on Find A Grave in this cemetery as of June 2024.

     Per Find A Grave, she is not listed at Woodlawn either, June 2024.

* Disclaimers, I use Find A Grave, Ancestry dot com, FamilySearch, several newspaper subscriptions, free sites, such as Virginia Chronicles, Virginia Chancery Cases online at the Library of Virginia and more to research my ancestors.  I pay for subscriptions, full price.

** My judgements may or may not be correct.  Transcriptions may or may not have errors.

*** Links, URL's, for the most part will not be included henceforth on my posts, as so many of them change and then I have to come back and try to re-discover and relink.  Frankly folks, I have no desire to spend my limited time here on this side of the sod with those kinds of do overs.  As researchers, or just members of the internet community, sites such as Find A Grave are easy to find, some are free to use and with the information I am sharing with you, hopefully, you can duplicate the research/findings. That said, I have seen memorials at Find A Grave be removed.  If you have questions, I suggest you leave a nice comment for me. OR find the method I have outlined on my blog for contacting me.

**** I hope the usual happens, within hours, sometimes minutes, I do another search and something shows up.  Well, I can hope.

***** I did find a Lonson Munger in the 1860 census index for Pine Grove, Sierra, California, which states a gentleman by that name resides there, is 30 years of age, born New York, married (no wife to be found on that enumeration), working in a fruit store. I am treating with reservations.  I do note, however, that Lonson Manzer's reported parents are buried in McHenry County, Illinois, Hannah Amelia's home in 1850, this does add to my comfort level on the research.

****** This study is a great example of "spelling don't count".  Just sayin - - 

.

Thelma Mildred Fanning, Found Infant, Reunited, Research As It Is Series

Copyright 2024, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

This continues a series of posts, done in a very efficient (make that speedy fast) manner to share some research on the ancestors.  This is NOT intended to be the end all to end all report.  It's a work in progress, to show you what I have found, right or wrong. Kind feedback is welcomed via comments.

Let’s begin - - 

Meet - - Thelma Mildred Fanning.

The back story:

For about the last year and a half I have been immersed in a review process, and it is ongoing.  It has been a challenge, fun, frustrating at times, productive, worth while and, did I say ongoing??  It started when I decided to go all in with Apple, no more Windows and Parallels add ons on the computers.  Well, that was the plan.  Cept, I did not plan well, or think it out, and the GEDCOM from Legacy to Reunion went, poorly, to say the least.  I lost literally thousands of links to research/multimedia. Sources, I am a lumper, jumped from around 2000 to well over 7000.  Of course, I did not realize how bad it was and I started changing the data base by adding peeps, and so forth.  I may have tried doing input to both Legacy and Reunion at the same time, I do not advise, it is, or was for me, a nightmare. 

I am happy to say that I have made a lot of progress and for the most part, I am very happy with the results. I did say, it is on going, right??

As I work, undoing the messes I made, I tend to do a bit of research along the way.  And, thus, I discovered Thelma this past weekend.

Her parents marriage did not last long and both married again.  She seems to be an only child. 

This is all I could find on Thelma, a short life, no story, just a death certificate.

There is no memorial for Thelma at Find A Grave.  No death notice or obituary was found at Genealogy dot com or Newspapers dot com.

So, little, but, welcome home Thelma, found and reunited with your parents, at least on my database.

* Disclaimers, I use Find A Grave, Ancestry dot com, FamilySearch, several newspaper subscriptions, free sites, such as Virginia Chronicles, Virginia Chancery Cases online at the Library of Virginia and more to research my ancestors.  I pay for subscriptions, full price.

** My judgements may or may not be correct.  Transcriptions may or may not have errors.

*** Links, URL's, for the most part will not be included henceforth on my posts, as so many of them change and then I have to come back and try to re-discover and relink.  Frankly folks, I have no desire to spend my limited time here on this side of the sod with those kinds of do overs.  As researchers, or just members of the internet community, sites such as Find A Grave are easy to find, some are free to use and with the information I am sharing with you, hopefully, you can duplicate the research/findings. That said, I have seen memorials at Find A Grave be removed.  If you have questions, I suggest you leave a nice comment for me. OR find the method I have outlined on my blog for contacting me.

**** I hope the usual happens, within hours, sometimes minutes, I do another search and something shows up.  Well, I can hope.

.

Rosa Isabelle Lashbrook, Died When ? Research Report, the As It Is Series

Copyright 2024, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

This continues a series of posts, done in a very efficient (make that speedy fast) manner to share some research on the ancestors.  This is NOT intended to be the end all to end all report.  It's a work in progress, to show you what I have found, right or wrong. Kind feedback is welcomed via comments.

Let’s begin - - 

Meet - - Rosa Isabelle Lashbrook

Rosa has been known to this researcher for many years,  here is what we know:

From the Cedar Falls Gazette, Cedar Falls, Iowa, published January 21, 1876:

     “Proceedings of the Board of Supervisors

     [Continued from last week.]

     Wednesday, Jan. 5, 1876.

     Board convened pursuant to adjournment.  Members all present.

     …

     ANNUAL REPORT OF THE STEWARD OF THE BLACK HAWK COUNTY POOR HOUSE FOR THE YEAR 1875.

     …

     Rosa and Hattie Lashbrook admitted Oct. 29: discharged Nov. 28, 1875.

     …

     I find during the year there has been admitted at the pro house, 95; discharged (?? cannot read) … 15; number died, 3; number births, 3; the number weeks of substance furnished, 740 and 4 days.

     All of which is respectfully submitted.

     H. A. HENDERSON.”

    * we note that the article was long and the image was at times difficult to read.  Hattie is Rosa's sister.

Rosa Lashbrook

in the 1880 United States Federal Census

Name Rosa Lashbrook

Age 8

Birth Date Abt 1872

Birthplace Iowa

Home in 1880 East Waterloo, Black Hawk, Iowa, USA

Dwelling Number 62

Race White

Gender Female

Relation to Head of House Stepdaughter (Step Daughter)

Marital Status Single

Father's Birthplace Illinois

Mother's Name Lucy A. Cook

Mother's Birthplace Iowa

Household Members (Name) Age Relationship

William E. Cook 51 Self (Head)

Lucy A. Cook 26 Wife

George Cook 20 Son

Rosa Lashbrook 8 Stepdaughter (Step Daughter)

Hattie Lashbrook 5 Stepdaughter (Step Daughter)

I have a death register record out of Black Hawk County, Iowa.  That record can be accessed at FamilySearch dot org. 

Rosa Isabella Dashbrook, 1880.

Name Rosa Isabella Dashbrook

Sex Female

Age 8

Birth Year (Estimated) 1872

Birthplace Waverly

Death Date 11 Jul 1880

Marital Status Single

Race white

Event Type Burial

Event Date 12 Jul 1880

Event Place Waterloo, Black Hawk, Iowa, United States

Source Details bk1 p1 cn3

Reference Items 3-5

  * we note the slight error in indexing her surname.

Recently when digging around in newspaper data bases I found this:

Found in the June 8, 1899 issue of the New Hampton Gazette, New Hampton, Iowa.  These three children all died in July of 1880.  The newspaper was located via the Community History Archive, Chickasaw Iowa, web site.  

     “Three Children Drowned.

     Waverly Independent: The Daily Waterloo Reporter, extra, published Sunday afternoon, gave an account of the great wreck and storm the night before, and closed with the following paragraph:  One of the saddest features of the day was the drowning of three children - - all playing or wading in the various ponds left by the receding waters.  Freddie Siberling, son of P. J. Siberling, was wading, in a place at the foot of West Sixth and stepped into water beyond his depth.  His only companion was a little six year old boy and he failed to give an alarm soon enough to permit a rescue.  Charles Merwin, son of Henry Merlin, was drowned in a sand hole across the Illinois Central tracks on the Independence road, while wading.  Cora Lashbrook, a step daughter of W. E. Cook, living about four miles north of town was drowned in a pond while wading in it, and dropping into a hole.” 

     *We note her given name is said to be Cora, it is not, it is Rosa.

I will confess that I brooded over this article, dated 1899, for a couple of weeks. How could a death from 1880 be recorded in a newspaper dated 1899, as if she had died in 1899?  One explanation, in hindsight, is that many newspapers ran "50 years ago" type articles.  Or, 20 years ago, or 30 years ago, or 40 years ago.  You get the idea.

Now and then, over the last month or so, I searched Ancestry dot com and FamilySearch dot org again, and again, and again.  Found :  Nadda new. Finally, I reviewed the death records/register of the county (FamilySearch) and all three of these children did in fact die in 1880.  Their deaths are all recorded on the same page of the register, recorded as items 3, 6 and 7 of that page.  I still have no explanation of this article suddenly appearing in 1899. 

I did search for the Waterloo paper named, and found copies of several different papers published at Waterloo via the NewspapersArchive.  I finally did stumble upon this (I admit to being quite clumsy using the search facilities of NewsapersArchive.) The search did not find her with the surname Lashbrook as my search querie, but, searching Cook did. (Her mother married William E. Cook in January 1878 in Black Hawk County, Iowa.)

From the Waterloo Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, published July 14, 1880:

     “Obituaries

     …

     ROSA I LASHBROOK

     A stepdaughter of Wm. E. Cook, living about four miles northeast of the city, was drowned about half past twelve o’clock Sunday.  It appears that the little girl, who was about 8 years, 8 months, and eight days old, went out with another girl to take a walk, and on their way they came to the bank of a creek about one-fourth of a mile south of the house.  The water had filled up the banks and gullied out many deep holes.  This girl, while walking along the bank, slipped into one of these holes and sank.  Her companion ran back to the house and gave the alarm.  Mr. Cook went to the place where she was drowned and after considerable effort succeeded in getting the body out of the water.  The funeral services were held last Monday afternoon.”

I searched all Waterloo papers at NewspaperArchive for 1899, hoping to find the article referenced by the New Hampton Gazette, so far, nadda.

In review for writing this blog post, I did, once again, visit Ancestry dot com where I located this article, not seen in any of my prior searches.  Do overs/reviews can result in "goodies" now and then:

From the Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, published July 16, 1930:

     “FIFTY YEARS AGO

     Wednesday, July 14, 1880.

     Following a cloudburst Dry Run rose to a record height last Saturday night.  The fire bell early Sunday morning called the people out of their homes to battle with the rising waters. People living along the run left their homes.  Street Commissioner S. M. Hoff estimates 12,000 feet of board sidewalk was either washed away or displaced.  Bridges over the run were washed out and plank crossings floated away. The most thrilling feature of the flood was the rescue of marooned persons.  Some of these were done at great peril to life.

     Three persons were drowned in Waterloo and vicinity last Sunday.  They were Fred Siberling, 10-year-old son of P. J. Siberling; Charles H. Merwin, 13-year-old son of Mr and Mrs. H. E. Merlin, and Rosa Lashbrook, young stepdaughter of W. E. Cook, living four miles northeast of here.  It was reported that three others lost their lives that day by drowning, John Carney, 17, of Eagle township, and two young children of La Port City, but we have been unable to obtain any particulars.

     The body of the Siberling boy was found Sunday afternoon near the foot of Sixth street west.  The Merlin boy was drowned in a gravel pit one-half mile east of town along with I. C. Railway and the Lashbrook girl was drowned in a creek into which she accidentally slipped while walking along the bank.  She was 8 years old.”

Rosa has no Find A Grave memorial of of June 2, 2024.  No memorial found at BillionGraves.

I am left with mixed emotions, it is always fulfilling in a genie kinda way to know more about the lives and deaths of ancestors.  It is also frequently very sad, as in Rosa's story.

* Disclaimers, I use Find A Grave, Ancestry dot com, FamilySearch, several newspaper subscriptions, free sites, such as Virginia Chronicles, Virginia Chancery Cases online at the Library of Virginia and more to research my ancestors.  I pay for subscriptions, full price.

** My judgements may or may not be correct.  Transcriptions may or may not have errors.

*** Links, URL's, for the most part will not be included henceforth on my posts, as so many of them change and then I have to come back and try to re-discover and relink.  Frankly folks, I have no desire to spend my limited time here on this side of the sod with those kinds of do overs.  As researchers, or just members of the internet community, sites such as Find A Grave are easy to find, some are free to use and with the information I am sharing with you, hopefully, you can duplicate the research/findings. That said, I have seen memorials at Find A Grave be removed.  If you have questions, I suggest you leave a nice comment for me. OR find the method I have outlined on my blog for contacting me.

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Nellie (Mae ?) Lashbrook Gregory, Research Report, the As It Is Series

Copyright 2024, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

This continues a series of posts, done in a very efficient (make that speedy fast) manner to share some research on the ancestors.  This is NOT intended to be the end all to end all report.  It's a work in progress, to show you what I have found, right or wrong. Kind feedback is welcomed via comments.

Let’s begin - - 

Meet - - Nellie (Mae?) Lashbrook Gregory:

Many years ago when Man and I visited and researched in Iowa we visited the Riverside Cemetery in Charles City.  We could not find a headstone for Nellie.  I also, over the years, could find no obituaries.  Recently, thanks to the Community History Archives program, I found her obituary, plus a few other articles in the weeks prior to and after her death.  Here are my notes and a couple of documents from my database:

Nellie appears on the 1880 census for Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa with her husband James Gregory, she is 25 years old, James' age cannot read, and Frances, their son, born Sept. 1879. Her mother Betsey Lashbrook Leaman is enumerated immediately before Nellie.

Nellie appears on the 1885 census of Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa as follows: James Gregory, 41, drugman, born Illinois; Nellie, age 30, keeping house, born Illinois; Frank, age 5, born Floyd County; Nellie, age 1, born Floyd County.  Note: Nellie, the 1 year old child, is not mention in the 1900 census, and Nellie the mother, claims to have had only 2 children, both of whom are living in the 1900 census.  However, we do find May Nellie Bean, on the 1925 Iowa census, who claims her parents to be James Gregory and Nellie Lashbrook.  Where this child was in 1900 is not known.

Nellie lived in Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa in 1893 when John Lashbrook's estate was being settled.

Nellie is on the 1895 census of 3rd Ward, Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa as follows: James Gregory, age 52, born Canada, occupation cannot read due to tight binding of the original book, Methodist religion, served in the Iowa 6th, Company B; Nellie, age 38, born Illinois, Methodist religion; Frank, male, age 15, born Floyd County; Nettie M. female, age 11, born Floyd County; Charles, male, age 6, born Floyd County.

Nellie is enumerated on the 1900 US Census of Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa as follows: James Gregory, born March 1842, 58 years old, married 23 years, born Canada, parents both born New York, came to US in 1871, teamster; Nellie, wife, born June 1855, 44 years old, married 23 years, 2 children, both survive, born Illinois, father born England, mother born New York; Frank F., son born Sept 1879, age 20, born Iowa; Charles H., son, born Jan. 1889, age 11, born Iowa.

Nellie was found on the 1905 Iowa State Census of Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa.  However, she is enumerated alone, not with the rest of the family unit, James and Charles.  Seeing that this census is just a listing of names, no ages, no places of birth, nothing more than a simple list of names, we cannot be positive this is our Nellie.  See image attached.

Nellie died about 1906, per the Civil War Pension file of her husband James.  In 1922 he states that she had been dead about 16 years.  

The record of Nellie Gregory from Iowa, Death Records

Name Nellie Gregory

Event Type Death

Event Date 13 Jan 1905

Event Place St. Charles, Madison, Iowa, United States

Event Place Charles, Iowa, United States

Gender Female

Age 49

Birth Year (Estimated) 1856

Father's Name R L Lashbrook

Mother's Name Besty Mitchell

"Iowa, Death Records, 1904-1951," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPFX-5H48 : 25 September 2018), R L Lashbrook in entry for Nellie Gregory, 13 Jan 1905, St. Charles, Madison, Iowa, United States; citing certificate #, State Historical Society of Iowa, Des Moines; FamilySearch digital folder 102869837.

From the Charles City Intelligencer, Charles City, Iowa, published January 5, 1905:

     “Additional Miner Happenings

     - - Mrs. James Gregory is in ????? health.”

From the Charles City Herald, Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa, published January 15, 1905:

     “Mrs. Nellie Gregory, wife of James Gregory, was born in Moringo, Ill., June 10th, and died in Charles City, January 13, 1905.  In 1870 she came here with her parents and in 1877, she married her husband, and three children were born to them, Mrs. Mary Bean, who lives in Cedar Rapids, Frank of Dubuque; and Charles, of this city.  Deceased was a faithful mother and loving wife.  The funeral services were held from the late home last Sunday afternoon, conducted by Rev. Wilson Denny.”

From the Charles City Herald, Charles City, Floyd County, Iowa, published January 18, 1905:

     “Mr. and Mrs. S. H. Mandell, who were called here to attend the funeral of Mrs. Mandell’s sister, Mrs. James Gregory, returned to their home in Hampton Monday.”

From the Charles City Intelligencer, Charles City, Iowa, published January 19, 1905:

     “Mrs. Geo. Wolvert, of Waterloo, attended the funeral of Mrs. James Gregory, returning home Monday evening.

     Mrs. W. H. Muffley, who was called here by the death of her sister, Mrs. James Gregory, returned home to Osage Monday.

     Mr. and Mrs. S. H. Mendell, of Hampton, who had been here to attend the funeral, of Mrs. James Gregory, returned home Monday.”

From the Charles City Intelligencer, Charles City, Iowa, published January 19, 1905:

      “GREGORY - - Died, at her late home in Charles City, Iowa, January 13, 1905, of cancer, Nellie, wife of James Gregory, aged 49 years 7 months and 3 days.

     Deceased was a native of Illinois having been born in that state at Marengo June 10, 1855.  She came to this city with her parents in 1870, where she has since resided.  She was married in this city in 1877 to James Gregory, who with one daughter and two sons survive her.  Three sisters and one brother also survive her.

     Mrs. Gregory lived a quiet, retired life, but was loved by all who knew her.  Her home was her world.

     Funeral services were conducted by Rev. Wilson Denney at 2 o’clock p.m. Sunday, at the house.

     The house was filled with neighbors and friends to mourn her death.  Interment was made at Riverside.”

Nellie has a Find A Grave memorial, # 17205913, as stated above, there is no photo of a headstone.

* Disclaimers, I use Find A Grave, Ancestry dot com, FamilySearch, several newspaper subscriptions, free sites, such as Virginia Chronicles, Virginia Chancery Cases online at the Library of Virginia and more to research my ancestors.  I pay for subscriptions, full price.

** My judgements may or may not be correct.  Transcriptions may or may not have errors.

*** Links, URL's, for the most part will not be included henceforth on my posts, as so many of them change and then I have to come back and try to re-discover and relink.  Frankly folks, I have no desire to spend my limited time here on this side of the sod with those kinds of do overs.  As researchers, or just members of the internet community, sites such as Find A Grave are easy to find, some are free to use and with the information I am sharing with you, hopefully, you can duplicate the research/findings. That said, I have seen memorials at Find A Grave be removed.  If you have questions, I suggest you leave a nice comment for me. OR find the method I have outlined on my blog for contacting me.

**** The question of her middle names derives from the fact that her Find A Grave memorial states her middle name as Mae, however, in all the years of my research I have not found any reference to a middle name. 

*****Mrs. Geo. Wolvert, we note the surname is actually Wolverton.

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